To all those who think Westminster is irrelevant, last night’s development could prove significant, if not actually decisive…
Boom!! Government defeated…
Brexit is in the hands of our Parliament, not Executive whim. pic.twitter.com/z4JqQJABig
— Mike Galsworthy (@mikegalsworthy) December 13, 2017
It certainly won’t bring the government down, but it WILL give the DUP and other Brexiteers some serious headaches in landing a deal that must meet parliamentary approval, and it’s a reminder that Parliament still actually matters.
NI’s only fully active opposition MP, Sylvia Hermon contributed to this narrowest of majorities. Of course, they will still have to tread carefully, triggering a ‘no deal’ is at present, unthinkable.
Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty